Surgery June 5th

We are praising God once again! No matter the outcome we will praise our Lord!

Last Monday's meeting with the oncologist went better than expected. The PET and CT scans showed further reduction of the tumors. The tumors have shrunk more than 50%!!

Deb's CA125 is 153 (normal range is 0-35), but it has gone down from 1,675.  

A meeting with the GYN oncologist surgeon today went very well too! She was very pleased with the progress of the chemotherapy. She says this is a good time for surgery ("debulking") and it seems that it will be less invasive than originally thought!! The surgery will be Tuesday June 5^th. It will be an open surgery with a vertical incision about 5-6". The uterus, the cervix, the ovaries and maybe the spleen will be removed. It looks like the bowel may be able to stay intact but she won't know until she goes in. Originally we were looking at removal of a large percentage if not all of the bowel, so this is great news to us!! The small lump under the right arm is still questionable so the surgeon is having the scans reviewed again to see if surgery in that area is necessary. If it is, then she will have a surgeon on hand who specializes in that area. The surgeon will also confer with the oncologist to see about installing a port directly into the peritonea so when chemo resumes it will go directly into the abdomen.

Deb will be at St. Mark's in Salt Lake City for 3-6 days. At home recovery looks like 2 to 6 weeks. We have been blessed with helpers the week of surgery, the week after surgery and the month of July!! Deb's cousin, Jill, will come out June 8-18th and then Deb's mom and niece, Holly, will come after to help care for Deb and David. We are celebrating David's birthday on May 31st -- he will be three!! We are so excited!!

After recovering from surgery (about 4-6 weeks) chemotherapy will resume. We don't know how many treatments so we will need helpers during that time too. Such a long ordeal!! Again we are praising God for such wonderful news.

We appreciate you all so very much for keeping us in your prayers. So many words of encouragement and prayers have helped us through dark times. We rest in joy and peace because we are confident that our Lord is in control … we pray that His will be done through our lives and this terrible disease!!

 Love and blessings,

 Tim, Deb and David

Waiting for the Doctor

I had a PET scan and CT scan yesterday (Tuesday). Everything went well but we won't have results until the doctor has time to view them. The oncologist is going to review the scans, talk with the GYN oncologist surgeon and then meet with me on Monday, May 21st. I AM a bit nervous to hear the news, but look forward to moving forward.

I feel like I am on vacation - no chemo this week!! Yippee!! Each day is different. Mother's Day started great and ended in nonstop crying. I feel like a different person today, it has been a glorious day. Thank you Lord!!

Mom left Wednesday before Mother's Day. We were very sad to see her go, but she had been here nearly 5 weeks so she had to return home to take care of business and live her life!! We are glad to know that she will be returning as the need arises. God has been so gracious to provide friends to stop by and help out with David, provide scrumptious meals, and check in on me. Thanks to so many wonderful people this week and last. We really appreciate each and every one of you!!

Blessings to you all!! Thanks for prayers for the Roundtree family. Steven is finishing his chemo this Friday and his protein count is within the low to normal range so he gets to ring the bell at the chemo center!! Thank you Lord!!!

Another young man at church - Biff is struggling with cancer. He recently had surgery and now the tumors are back growing in his liver and it is inoperable. Please keep his wife and kids in your prayers. It's a horrible road to travel. Thanks

CA125 results

Today is Monday. Thank you again for your prayers. They are greatly needed and much appreciated. I got to cut the grass a second time for the week. Boy it's growing fast and I am so grateful that I had the energy to cut it and then do the edging. I know these simple tasks don't really do anything for God's glory but they make me feel good. Is that a bad thing?

Tim has been out of town since Sunday morning and we miss him terribly. The good news is that God provided this trip to KY for Tim through his work. It's been a blessing because he has been able to stay an extra day and go visit family!! I wish we were with him to give mom, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews hugs and kisses.

Knowing that I will most like be having surgery this summer and will need help for many weeks, I prayed with Uncle Gene Friday night for God to provide affordable airfares and flights for those people who may be coming. I forgot to tell Tim about our specific prayer and God answered my prayer through Tim's travel. I have been concerned about visitors finding flights because they will have short notice about my dates of need and the news constantly reports that the airlines are raising prices. Tim was offered a sum of money for a flight voucher when he gave up his seat Sunday morning on the over booked flight. This is great news to me, although I am not sure how Tim is going to spend that ticket voucher!!

Mom took me to my NADIR visit today -- my blood counts are normal, per the Doctor, and my CA15 has lowered again, thank God. It is now 178. It was 1,675, then 550, then 255 and now 178 (Target is 0-35). I have had 5 chemo treatments so far. We started treatment Friday, January 13, 2013.

I will have both the PT and CT scan Tuesday the 15th. Then the info goes to my oncologist who will be in touch with the surgeon. Then I hope to have an appointment with the surgeon. Perhaps she will recommend another chemo treatment, perhaps it will be surgery I don't know. It's difficult not knowing. Will the tumors spring back to life and continue to grow while I am waiting for someone to make a decision about having more chemo or surgery? I don't know.

I am ready to resume a normal life. Is that possible?? Or, at least live a life that is glorifying God and making a difference somewhere somehow!!

David climbed into my bed today while I was napping. He had his tool box and said, "I have my tools and I am a doctor and I am going to fix your tummy." He took out each tool, made particular sounds with each tool and pronounced, "there!"

He likes to run around the house with the kitchen tongs, stop you and say, "Let me get that asparagus off your pants." Then he will use the tongs and gently pinch your pants. It's quite funny the things he comes up with.

I hope you are having a blessed day. I am sorry for being so self-centered in this blog. I would love to hear about you, so please feel free to write to me at my e-address, especially if you are not able to leave comments on this blogspot. daboggess@comcast.net.

HUGE THANK YOUS go to Nana Jan Morrison and Barb Reott for continuing to send me lovely, funny, encouraging, prayer-filled cards each week!!! What a wonderful ministry ladies:-) Not a week goes by without 2-5 cards from these lovely ladies. I appreciate you and your thoughtfulness so much! May you reap what you sow.

Blessings Abound

Five treatments. Check! I slept all day long in the chair. We actually got to pick a semi-private room so I didn't socialize at all :-(. Went home and slept more until Small Group. I don't even recall if I had dinner, but who can recall what they ate for dinner 6 days prior?

Saturday was truly a God-blessed day. It was absolutely a gorgeous spring day so we headed down to Thanksgiving Point and strolled around the Gardens to enjoy the last day of the Tulip Festival. What a family treat to get out with Tim, Mom and David!! I felt wonderful despite having had chemo just 24 hours before.

After spending the afternoon at the Gardens we came home and I had plenty of energy left to cut the grass. It's just so wonderful to feel well!! Then good friends joined us for a last minute call for a game of Settlers of Catan! What a great day:-). Thanks Alyssa and Michael for topping off a great day!!

Sunday we headed to church and what a heart-hitting sermon we heard from Pastor Jim. Too bad I can't remember any details to share. I do remember that there was a call for prayer just before service for Steven - a friend going through cancer treatments too. Please keep that family in your prayers too. He was admitted to the hospital for shock. Thanks to God he was released the same day. Cancer treatments are truly grueling.

By Sunday evening my energy level dropped and my nausea started up. Fortunately Tim stays on top of my meds and keeps mom updated with what pills and the time(s) they were given. Then he sends her text messages to remind her what pills are due and when. He is amazing. Thanks for keeping him in your prayers too. God knew that I needed a strong, gentle, caring man when He gave me Tim. Funny thing, I warned Tim when we started dating that I was a high-maintenance girl -- emotionally (not financially)!! And he has been able to stay one step ahead of me and my needs!! I am so blessed to be his wife.

Monday and Tuesday I spent the days sleeping. Yuk! Those are the worst days -- sleeping my day(s) away! The nausea is such that I don't feel like drinking water or any liquid. This creates a chain reaction - no or slow bowel movement. No bowel movement, more stool softeners/laxatives, more nausea, more pills, more nausea. It's a horrible cycle. Mom reminded me that time will help me through these difficult days. I just need to do what my body is asking - sleep, sleep, rest and sleep.

Wednesday I was able to go to Bible study with Robyn - thank you Robyn for being so diligent to pick up David Wednesday mornings and take him to play with the kids at church. We are grateful for your time, your caring, and willingness to have David in your care!

Finally it's Thursday and I am starting to feel a little better. It helps when the neighbors have a little cookout and gather together. What a blessing God has given us there -- wonderful, genuinely caring neighbors. Can life get any better?? (The cancer could be gone!).

Thanks for your continued prayers. I have a PT/CT scan Tuesday May 15th. Then a meeting with the surgeon (not yet scheduled). Perhaps surgery will come the end of May/beginning of June. David will be 3 on May 31st so I am hoping to be out of the hospital to celebrate his birthday.

Please, pray please...

I am looking at chemo treatment #5 Friday April 27th. I can hardly believe I have 4 treatments "under my belt". Actually, I can hardly believe I have cancer! It totally sucks. My mom sent me a saying on paper, "Chemo sucks...but if it sucks the cancer out of you it's great!"

I read some disturbing news last week -- "People die of metastatic disease. They don't die from primary tumors." The article was (is) about researchers trying to "interrupt cancer's travel plans." I try not to read about cancer because it reminds me that I have the wretched disease.

I know people survive cancer like mine (peritoneal cancer that has metastasized). I know God has cured people with cancer. I know God has allowed people with the exact same diagnosis to live long lives with the disease. BUT I am still in tears. David asked me today, "Mommy why hasn't Jesus healed you?" He is nearly 3 and asking such big questions!

As a friend going through cancer treatments recently wrote on his blog, "I am having to empirically learn that trusting God should come with no emotional expectations attached.  He will be there because He promises to be, not because we can feel him there."

I know God has a plan for me and I trust that He knows what's best for Tim, David, and me. However, my emotions are getting the best of me these days. I am experiencing overwhelming tears at the drop of a hat. My mind is weak and it's difficult to remind myself that God is in control. I understand the chemo as well as this hormone-related cancer are putting me through emotional swings. If that is not enough, how about some menopausal symptoms too?! So…tears come and go just like these new-to-me hot flashes. Boy, they are, shall I say … HOT!!  Do you think anyone would notice if I just pulled my wig off while in the grocery store or outside working in the yard!!  

We are discovering daily that cancer and treatment equal a looooooong haul. Every day presents its challenges. Some days I am energized and enjoying yard work, taking David to the park, or entertaining and cooking for guests. And some days I can only manage to sit on the couch, work on the computer, and/or occupy my mind with a movie. My mood, my physical and emotional health are totally unreliable!! I can serve dinner one minute, then excuse myself from the table because I am too tired to sit at the table (or my tummy hurts, or whatever the reason).

I know people get busy and life DOES go on. Tim is unbelievable and forever serving his family after working all day long. He needs prayer. Mom needs prayer 'cause she is busy all day caring for David and me. I need prayer to be strong and to know how and when to talk to David about life, healing, loving & trusting Jesus no matter what, and death. I feel like the prayers are waning and my strong tower is cracking. Pastor John said I just need to remind people to pray, so here is a reminder.

Thank you so very muchJ

Heading Foward

It's Tuesday and I am feeling pretty good. As a matter of fact I have not felt this good after chemo ever -- yes, I still have nausea and am tired, but I am thankful for a different experience than the previous 3 treatments. Thank you every one for your prayers!! My chemo was Friday. For the first time, I was able to go to church the weekend of chemo! It was especially nice since it was Resurrection Sunday!! The day could not have been any more wonder-filled!! Mom was here to celebrate with us and we saw so many people in our church family. That always puts a smile in my soul!! We are so very blessed to be so loved and cared for at Calvary Chapel.

Easter Sunday was a picture perfect spring day. Although we didn't participate in any of the "normal" Easter bunny stuff or egg hunts we had a great day being together. We played outside, Tim  and David "worked" on tuning up the bicycles and took a little ride around the neighborhood. Mom and I worked in the yard and flower beds a little bit. We took a walk, visited with neighbors, and brought out the patio furniture and grill. I love the spring time. It's Tim's favorite season and I can see why.

Mom took me to my appointment Monday for a Neulasta shot. Boy, I don't remember that hurting so much!!! I cried and cried. I did get to rejoice a little in the news of the CA125 (ovarian cancer indicator test), it's 255! Initially it was 1,675. The normal range is 0-35, so we are getting there.

I continue to ask for your prayers for Tim, David and me. I realize there are so many people in need of prayer and for those of you who are prayer warriors...I appreciate you so much. Thank you for answering God's call to pray! Here is a funny picture of David. He said, "Hey mom, it's an astonishing wig"!! (He has been watching Veggie Tales' "Princess and the Popstar" and there is a short song about "astonishing wigs".)

The "astonishing wig"!

Ready for bike ride with Daddy

Working on the blog!

 

Blessed Redeemer, Jesus Divine

Chemo #4 is finished!! Thanks for the prayers, truly! I was a little anxious going in because chemo #3 was not a good experience --I slept the entire time in "the chair" and then I went home and slept until our Small Group arrived.  I hate feeling tired all the time...urghhh! I didn't want to sleep the day away Friday and then go home and sleep more like chemo #3.  It was Good Friday and we were expecting to host a special Seder Meal with about 20 some people, so we needed to finish setting up the dinner table and making food.

Prior to the day's treatment, we meet with the Doctor or PA for a report on my blood counts and a decision of "yes" or "no" to go ahead with treatment for the day. The PA reported that my blood work was nearly normal and that was encouraging news! However, she wants me to come back Monday for another Neulasta shot to avoid a severe drop in white blood cells like before. Praise God that we have insurance to pay for this shot. I understand it's about $6,000. I pray for those people who don't have insurance. What do they do when faced with these diseases and high medical costs?

Although I did what I most did NOT want to do and that was spend my day in "the chair" sleeping!! Even though the cancer center was very busy and I had never seen so many chairs occupied, I just could not stay awake to be part of many (or any) conversations. Fortunately my bladder awoke me several times so I could visit with people as Tim and I walked to and from the bathroom.

Friends from church were at the center too. Unfortunately they were not there to visit. Steven is getting treatment for cancer too. Steven gets treatment 5 days a week and then he is "off" for 2 weeks then back to treatment for 5 days. It's grueling and taxing physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Please keep the Roundtree family in your prayers. Steven's wife Jennifer blessed me with a foot massage that put me to sleep! We met this couple nearly 2 years ago when their 3^rd girl was just a newborn.

We left the center later than expected and I was indeed tired. During the drive home I tried to figure out how I could avoid going to bed and sleeping because I wanted to be perky for our guests! We were so grateful to get home and know that David had been well cared for all day.

THANK YOU ALYSSA for watching David all day! What would we do without your love and friendship?! You are a blessing to David, Tim and me!

I settled on the couch, ready to watch Tim pull the tables together, dress them, and get dinner started. A knock on the door soon came and it was another huge BLESSING -- Stephanie and Miranda!! They were delivering the prayer shawl for the Seder Meal. They brightened our day and lifted my spirits 100 fold!! They helped Tim set up the tables and chairs, played with David, visited with me, and loved on us! Thank you God for the little things that mean soooo much! Next thing I knew time flew by, my energy was high, and guests for Seder began to arrive. It was time to get my wig on!!

As Tim had reminded me all week, "God will work it all out", God indeed worked it all out! I had been so occupied with what was on my plate that I could not rest in God and His provision. (What's up with that?!) Our Passover Seder Meal unfolded beautifully and praises go to God! We had the perfect number of chairs for each guest. It was a wonderful evening of participating in the oldest, continuously celebrated holiday in history! It is said that some 16 million Jews and untold believers of the New Covenant join in the celebration which goes back 3500 years!! What a blessed evening of remembrance and sweet fellowship!!

The Seder ("order of service") retells the story of Israel and their deliverance from Egyptian slavery by God's mighty hand. The Seder was also prophetic in nature, looking forward with great insight to the deliverance of man from his slavery to sin through the death of Yeshua (Jesus) (Hebrews 10:1). Once again, God stretched forth His mighty hand to deliver those who were both helpless and helplessly trapped. Thank you Lord again for sending Your Only Begotten Son to die in our place on the cross. We deserve death and instead You offer us life. You are truly amazing, generous and merciful. We need You desperately and we pray that we love You Lord each and every day!

The Seder plate - each element is a portrait of redemption.

Small Group HUG!!! We love you guys!!

The kids had a space of their own.
Thanks Mike and Michael for keeping an eye on them! 

The 3 tables are set.

There were 3 "Mamas" who had minor speaking roles and
were recognized by wearing a scarf on  her head.
Thanks April and Annie!

Chaplain Mary led the entire ceremony and
explained why Jewish people celebrate the Seder
worldwide on Good Friday.

Tim played the role as one of the 3 "Papas"
and wore Stephanie's authentic prayer shawl.

Thanks for bringing my mom here safely too! She arrived just in time to share a meal with us and catch up with our Small Group family. What a beautiful Good Friday for us.